Interesting Facts/ Notes About Christmas

It is an accepted fact that the Christmas treelike tinsel instead of green foliage.
tradition is one that was brought to the shores ofAn important ceremony related to the Christmas
America by German immigrants who continued atree that gains national attention during the
practice that was popular in their formerChristmas season is the lighting of the National
homeland. Today, a Christmas tree, even aChristmas Tree at the White House. This tradition
miniature one, is present in just about everycan be credited to President Calvin Coolidge who
home at Christmas. It is therefore interesting tolit the first decorated Christmas tree outside at
note some little-know facts about the Christmasthe White House in 1923.
Tree and other traditions related to Christmas.The lighting of the National Christmas Tree has
The first interesting fact is the source of realalso been used to convey some symbolic
Christmas Trees for some Americans. These canmeaning not related to Christmas. It was not
be bought at a Christmas Tree Farm or at manylighted until Dec. 22 in 1963 because of a national
local stores and other places of business in justmourning period of 30 days for the assassination
about every town and city across the countryof President Kennedy. And while Teddy Roosevelt
around Christmas time. But according to thewas President he gave an order that banned the
National Christmas Tree Association, AmericansChristmas tree from the White House, not for
buy about 330,000 Christmas trees that are realthe assassination of President McKinley in 1901,
through e-commerce or from a catalogue andwhich caused him to become president, but for
have them shipped by mail-order.reasons related to the environment.
The scent of real Christmas trees is the reasonAlso of note is that when the National Christmas
they are so popular. But as they stand silently inTree was lighted on Dec. 13 in 1984,
their decorative wonder, they also are providingtemperatures were in the 70s during an unusually
another benefit. The Christmas Tree Associationwarm December. Christmas has been celebrated
says the amount of oxygen produced on a dailyin the United States since the 1600s although it
basis by one acre of Christmas tree is enough towasn't always very popular. It took more than
provide enough oxygen for 18 people. And duringtwo centuries into the mid-late 1860s for
the first week, a Christmas Tree at home will useChristmas to become a popular holiday season all
up to one quart of water each day to help retainacross America.
its longevity for the many days of Christmas.So maybe the rest of the country owes the
Since Christmas celebrations gained popularity inholiday of Christmas Day to the state of
America, the Christmas Tree has always been aAlabama, which in 1836 became the first state to
big tradition. During the 1950s however, artificialdeclare Dec. 25 a legalholiday. It is interesting to
Christmas trees were not always green. It wasnote that on Christmas Day of 1789 Congress
very popular during those times to have artificialwas in session. And to show how far ahead of
trees with other colors such as silver, pink andthe game Alabama was, it wasn't until June 26,
aqua. The appeal in having these colored1870 that the federal government declared
Christmas trees may have been due to the factChristmas as a federal holiday.
that they looked shiny and bright and appeared